Country Office Directors
Our Country Office Directors oversee the operations of their respective offices, ensuring that activities and results align with NIMD’s mission and goals. Together with their teams, the Directors develop and implement strategies tailored to their country or region’s specific political and social context. Their expertise and networks ensure their programmes contribute to a more peaceful, just and inclusive democracy, adapting and responding to the demands and needs of their country.
Management Team
The Management Team in The Hague sets NIMD’s strategic goals and oversees operations. The team carries out all Executive Board functions. This includes ensuring programmes align with NIMD global strategy; fostering strong relationships with our funding partners; providing institutional knowledge and support to the Country Offices; and ensuring smooth day-to-day running of our work.
As Executive Director of NIMD since January 2019, Thijs Berman is responsible for NIMD’s overall strategy, vision, and mission.
Thijs has more than 30 years of experience in media, politics and international development. He began his career as a journalist, and then became a Member of the European Parliament for the Dutch Labour Party. As an MEP he was a member of several committees, including the Subcommittee on Human Rights, and has also headed several European election observation missions. In the two years before joining NIMD, Thijs worked as the Principal Advisor to the OSCE Representative of Freedom of the Media.
As Head of Programmes & Knowledge, Wouter Dol is responsible for all global programming and knowledge support within NIMD’s network of partners and offices.
Wouter has worked in the field of international development and democratic governance for the past 18 years. Before taking up his current role, he served in different capacities at NIMD including in strategic relations and programme management. Prior to joining NIMD, Wouter worked for the UNDP in Bangladesh and the OSCE in Kosovo. He holds a double Master’s degree in International Relations and Communications from the University of Amsterdam.
As Head of Finance, Control & Support, Gilbert Chandrasekaran is responsible for financial operations and quality control.
Gilbert is a Chartered Accountant by profession and has over 18 years of experience in both commercial and non-profit organizations. Before taking up his current role, Gilbert worked in various capacities in the finance department for the Tata group in South Africa and also served as Head of Finance for the African Leadership University group, based out of Mauritius and Rwanda.
As Head of Positioning, Heleen Schrooyen is responsible for NIMD’s strategic relations, fundraising and institutional communications.
Heleen has 20 years of experience in the field of democracy, human rights, and rule of law. Prior to joining NIMD in 2003, she worked for the United Nations in Central America and Switzerland. Within NIMD, Heleen has developed profound expertise in democratization processes, including political party legal frameworks, democracy education and facilitating multiparty and multi stakeholder dialogue processes. Her focus areas include the participation of women in politics, and gender sensitive law and policymaking. .
Programmes & Knowledge Team
The Programmes & Knowledge Team supports all ongoing NIMD programmes and projects. The team provides advice and knowledge in line with the NIMD approach, thematic priorities, and overall strategic goals. In addition, the team facilitates mutual learning within our network of offices and partners. And it enhances NIMD’s knowledge base by developing tools and piloting innovative approaches. It is the Programmes & Knowledge Team’s responsibility to monitor progress, adapt our programming and capture results.
The Programmes & Knowledge Team is headed by Wouter Dol, and coordinated by Reem Judeh, Senior Programmes & Knowledge Advisor.
Grants Management Team
The Grants Management Team is responsible for coordinating the implementation of all NIMD programme commitments, as laid out in our grant agreements. The team is charged with grant coordination, donor liaison, reporting, and supporting NIMD consortium partners to deliver intended outcomes. The team also acts as the secretariat for the different consortia that NIMD leads.
The Grant Management Team is headed by Wouter Dol and coordinated by Antoine Brasset, Senior Grants Coordinator.
Positioning Team
The Positioning Team is responsible for NIMD’s institutional communications, external positioning and organization-wide fundraising. The team is also responsible for communicating our results, which includes releasing publications, creating online content, organizing events and coordinating media outreach.
The Positioning Team is headed by Heleen Schrooyen.
Finance, Control & Support Team
The Finance, Control & Support Team ensures internal control, risk management, and quality processes, and is responsible for the financial accountability of NIMD. The team also provides Human Resources and Office Facility Management.
The Finance, Control & Support Team is headed by Gilbert Chandrasekaran.
